Salvage system

ABSTRACT

A marine salvage system is disclosed as including a carrier vehicle having a controllable manipulator arm to which is attached a carriage frame for carrying a plurality of unique self-striking, self-aligning welding electrode assemblies that facilitate the welding thereof to sunken underwater objects to be salvaged, so that they may be raised to the surface and transported to any desired place.

United States Patent 1191 Trowbridge SALVAGE SYSTEM [75] Inventor:Clifford F. Trowbridge, Pleasant Hill, Calif.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Navy, Washington, DC.

[22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 223,431

52 US. Cl. 114/51 [51] 1111.01. B63c 7/00 58 Field of Search 114/51, 44;219/72, 219/98 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,374,1344/1945 Richard 114/51 1/1970 Wieland 219/98 3,354,856 11/1967Anniba1e.... 114/51 3,033,149 5/1962 Aschinger.. 114/51 1,393,89410/1921 McGill 114/51 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler AssistantExaminer-Gregory W. OConnor Attorney-Richard S. Sciascia et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A marine salvage system is disclosed as including acarrier vehicle having a controllable manipulator arm to which isattached a carriage frame for carrying a plurality of uniqueself-striking, self-aligning welding electrode assemblies thatfacilitate the welding thereof to sunken underwater objects to besalvaged, so that they may be raised to the surface and transported toany desired place.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SALVAGE SYSTEM STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENTINTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used byor for the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, in general, tosalvage systems and, in particular, is a new and improved system forsalvaging underwater objects of irregular or non-uniform surface orprofile characteristics by effecting a unique attachment thereto andthen lifting and carrying said objects to the water surface or otherdesired locations for further operation thereon. In even greaterparticularity, the subject invention incorporates an improvedself-striking, self-aligning, stud-electrode, padeye attachment forconnecting a lift means to an object to be lifted during salvage orother operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Heretofore, numerous methods and means havebeen employed for connecting lift and towing mechanisms to objects to beremoved from various and sundry environments and situations for salvageor other purposes, including for underwater salvage purposes. Forexample, such things as hooks and grapples have been used. However,their use is limited to the situation where the object or device to belifted has such structural configurations as will provide a place forthe connection thereof therewith. In addition, such items as inflatablefloats or pontoons have been attached to sunken objects and theninflated in such manner as to raise said object, say, to the surface ofthe water in which it had sunk. Of course, such items usually requirethat divers make the proper attachments thereof, and, thus, they areordinarily limited in use to relatively shallow water operations.Moreover, some marine salvage operations make use of slings, cradles, orcradle-like cables which are inserted under the object to be raised andthey are pulled up by means of motor driven winches, pulleys, and thelike. Again, such devices are limited to diveraccessible situations,ordinarily in shallow water, and require such ancilliary equipment asships, cranes, floats, etc.

All of the foregoing methods and means for raising objects, especiallythose located in water, are quite satisfactory for many practicalpurposes. However, for many other purposes, they leave something to bedesired. Accordingly, the subject invention is exceedingly useful andconstitutes an improvement over the prior art in many instances.

7 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the instant invention comprises acarrier vehicle having a manipulator mechanism for placing a connectoron the outside surface of a non-uniform object to be lifted duringsalvage or other operations. After such placement thereby, sufficientelectrical current is supplied to an electrode array-included in saidconnector to cause the electrodes thereof to be welded securely to saidobject, after which it is disconnected from the manipulator mechanismand pulled to the water surface or other useful location by a suitablecable attached to a winch or an appropriate service vehicle, such as,for instance, a salvage ship, or the like.

As a result of the unique structural configuration of each electrodeassembly in said electrode array, it becomes self-striking andself-aligning at the instant it impacts upon the surface of the objectto be salvaged, thereby effecting an exceeding strong connection meansfor its particular size and weight. Hence, for many practical purposes,the subject invention overcomes most of the disadvantages of the priorart and, thus, constitutes an improvement thereover.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvedobject lifting system.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved salvagesystem.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved methodand means for attaching a lift device to an irregularly shaped object tobe lifted.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method andmeans for connecting a manipulatable mechanism to an underwater objectto be salvaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and means forcarrying an underwater object by a-salvage vehicle, be it a submarine, awater surface vehicle, an aircraft, or any other type of salvagevehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved underwatersalvage connector that is not adversely affected by a marine film orgrowth located on the object to be salvaged.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedunderwater salvage attachment method and means'that is effective withoutpenetrating the object to be moved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a salvage connector thatdoes not have a deleterious affect on the buoyancy of the object beingsalvaged.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method and means forcapturing, holding, pulling, and lifting a marine vehicle or otherobject that has sunk in deep water, regardless of its externalgeometrical configuration.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages will be readilyappreciated as the subject invention becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description, when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING eration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, thereis shown an optional tractor vehicle 11 which, if warranted by any givenoperational circumstances, is connected to a carrier vehisuch as acrane, a boat, an underwater vehicle, or the like. Moreover, it mayeither be pushed or pulled by the aforesaid tractor vehicle 11 or, ifpreferred, it may be a self-contained and auto-motive vehicle which hasits own power plant. In addition, it preferably includes such electricalpower supplies, selector switches, and other controls necessary forversatile operation.

Carrier vehicle 12 also contains (or has connected thereto) a servomanipulator 13 of any conventional type that will allow it to positionits outer extremity in accordance with the control signals suppliedthereto by a human or other operator. Connected to the controlled end ofmanipulator 13 is a disconnect mechanism 14, which, in this particularinstance, as will be disclosed subsequently, is a combination mechanicaland electrical disconnect mechanism. It is, of course, of a type that isconventional in the art; therefore, it may be hydraulically,mechanically, electrically, or otherwise actuated, as desired.

Connected to disconnect mechanism 14 is a padeye salvage connector 15,which is the device that is constructed for being attached to and liftor otherwise move an object to be salvaged l6. Connector 15 will bediscussed more fully below.

The preferred embodiment disclosed herewith includes an optional liftvehicle 17, which may be any suitable vehicle but is usually a salvageship having power winches, cranes, and other salvage facilities locatedthereon. Through said winches, etc., lift vehicle 17 is connected by acable 18 (mechanical and/or electrical) to the aforesaid connector 15,and it is by such means that the object to be salvaged 16 is raised tothe surface of the water and perhaps towed to some more accessiblelocation.

To provide communication between all of the aforementioned devices 11through 17, an optional telemetering system 19 may be employed. For suchpurpose, telemetering system 19 is disclosed in a general manner asbetween lift vehicle 17 and carrier vehicle 12, but it should beunderstood that it may extend therethrough and, thus, be effectivelyconnected to the other devices, as well.

In order to simplify and relate, insofar as it is possible, theparticular elements of each of the drawing figures, like elementsthereof will be identified (without limitation) by like referencenumerals.

As suggested above, FIG. 2 depicts a pair of padeye connectors 15 and 21supported by a frame 22 connected to the outer extremity 23 of theaforesaid manipulator 13. Although only two padeye connectors areincluded in this particular preferred embodiment, it should beunderstood that frame 22 may be so designed as to support any numberthereof necessary for any given operational circumstances, since sodoing would be well within the purview of the artisan having the benefitof the teachings presented herewith. Furthermore, because connectors 15and 21 are identical, only connector 21 will be described in detail.

In order to turn either of the padeye connectors into position forattachment to the object to be salvaged, a rotary electrical powerconnector 24 is employed.

Thus, electrical power may be conducted through manipulator 13, throughrotary power connector 21, and through cables 25 to electromechanicaldisconnect mechanisms 26 and 27, both of which were lumped together asdisconnect 14 in the teaching of FIG. 1. Disconnect mechanisms 26 and 27may be of any conventional type that, before actuation, securely holdspadeye connector 21 within frame 22 and timely supplies electrical powerto electrode and other components thereof. They may, for example, beoperated hydraulically pneumatically, electrically, or mechanically, asoperational circumstances dictate. In any event, as previouslyindicated, they securely attach their respective padeye connectors toframe 22, so as to facilitate the placement thereof against the objectto be salvaged.

At preferably uniform locations around the periphery of connector 21 aremounted a plurality of permanent magnets of which magnets 28 and 29 arevisible in FIG. 2. Said magnets should be strong enough to be attractedto the metal surface of the object to be salvaged, so that the entirepadeye connector will be held thereagainst until a more secureattachment is made therebetween.

As may best be seen in both FIGS. 2 and 3, padeye connector has a baseplate 31 to which said magnets 28 and 29, as well as magnet 32, areattached by any conventional means. Base plate 31 has brackets 33through 35 welded thereto for the support thereof. In this particularpreferred embodiment of the invention, base plate 31 is shown as beingsquare with an opening in the center; however, it may also be designedto have any other geometrical configuration and be solid, if so desired.Connected to the top of brackets 32 through 36 is an upper support pad37, and connected thereto is a lift eye 38 with a hole 39 therethroughfor insertion of a bridal portion 31 of a tow or lift cable 18 therein.

At this time, it should perhaps be understood that all of theconnections between structural elements of the entire invention are wellknown and conventional, per se. Hence, they may, for example, be made bywelding, bolting, riviting, or any other appropriate means. Of course,detailed disclosures of such connections have not been illustrated,other than showing that they do exist and, thus, the respectivecomponents of the invention are properly assembled together.

Located through base plate 31 is a plurality of aperatures or holes 43in which is disposed a like plurality of universally jointed electrodeassemblies 44, respectively. Each of said electrode assemblies isconstructed as shown in FIG. 4, and, of course, each thereof constitutesa very important part of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 4, as shown therein, electrode assembly 44 isdepicted schematically as having a twodegree-of-freedom gimbal assembly45 which is mounted in one of the aforesaid holes 43 in base plate 31.Connected to the inner ring of gimbal assembly 45 is a sleeve 46, whichextends downwardly and has a capped end 47 with a hole 48 therein at thebottom thereof. Slidably mounted in the hole or opening of the bottom ofsleeve 46 is a hollow cylinder 49. Cylinder 49 has an upper end cap 51with a flanged portion 52 extending from the periphery thereof, saidflanged portion 52 being of such dimension as to be slidably compatiblewith the inside diameter of sleeve 46 and act as an abutment stop withthe upper side of capped end 47. Disposed between the lower end of theinner ring of gimbal 45 and the upper end of cylinder 49 is a coilspring 53 which casues cylinder 49 to be urged downwardly in such mannerthat flange 52 is against end cap 47.

Located approximately midway along the length of cylinder 49 is an innerguide 54, which extends around the entire inside circumference thereof,and at the lower end thereof is a cap 55 with a center hole 56therethrough. For assembly and disassembly purposes, end cap 55 may bebolted by bolts 57 or otherwise suitably connected to the lower end ofcylinder 49 and upper end cap 51 may be connected to cylinder 49 bybolts 58, if so desired. The bottom end of cylinder 40 contains screwthreads 59, and screwed on said threads by means of internal threads 60is an electrically nonconductive ceramic clearance ring orfrustro-conical cone 61 which has a hole 62 extending therethrough alongthe longitudinal axis thereof.

Disposed within cylinder 49 is a welding electrode 63. Said electrodehas a lower section 64 of such diameter to slidably pass through hole 62in cone 61, and it has a larger intermediate section 65 of such diameteras will provide a slip fit between it and the inside diameter of theaforesaid cylinder guide 54. An even larger section 66 thereof islocated within the top of cylinder 49 in such manner that it is slidabletherein. Of course, as readily may be seen, the length of said largersection is such that electrode 63 has sufficient play within cylinder 49that it can move up and down therein but be stopped by the lower side ofupper end cap 51- and the upper side of guide 54. Disposed between thelower surface of intermediate section 65 of electrode 63 and the uppersurface of lower end cap 55 is a helical coil spring 67, the coils ofwhich surround lower section 64 of electrode 63.

The upper end cap 51 of cylinder 49 contains a hole 68, and extendingtherethrough is a lower discharge portion 69 of an explosive cartridgeassembly 71, the upper charge portion 72 of which is located within thehelical coils of the aforementioned spring 53. The upper surface ofcartridge 71 is disposed in abutment with the underside of a wall 73located in sleeve 46 which acts as a breech block therefor during thefiring thereof.

Cartridge 71 is preferably fired electrically and, thus, has electricalleads 74 connected thereto. For this purpose leads 74 extend through ahole 75 in wall 73 and are connected to suitable power supply andswitching apparatus aboard carrier vehicle 12, or elsewhere asappropriate. At the lower extremity of stud electrode 63 is attached asmall, pointed, consumable arc-striking electrode 76, the point of whichis the first part of the electrode assembly to contact the surface ofthe object to be salvaged.

To provide large electrical current to welding electrode 63, a heavyduty, insulated wire conductor 77 is connected thereto. It passesthrough a suitable hole 78 in the wall of cylinder 49 and a hole 79 inbase plate 31 in order for the other end thereof to be connected tosuitable switching mechanisms and power supplies (not shown), preferablylocated in the aforesaid carrier vehicle 12 and perhaps controlled bysuitable control instrumentation (likewise not shown) in optional liftvehicle 17.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary operational arrangement of a systemincorporating the instant invention. It is herewith employed to insurethat it is understood that at least one embodiment thereof is useful forits intended purpose. Hence, it should be considered that the inventionis not limited thereto. Again, reference numerals previously used willbe employed to indicate like elements, components, and devices. Thus,shown therein is optional lift vehicle 17 portrayed as a ship 17 whichoptionally tows by means of a combination telemetering tow cable 19 acarrier vehicle 12. Again, it should be understood that vehicle 12 maybe selfpropelled, it so desired; and moreover, that ship 17 andtelemetering 19 may not be required, especially if vehicle 12 iscompletely self-sufficient.

Carrier vehicle 12 includes a conventional controllable manipulatormechanism 13 which is capable of deploying salvage connector 21 in anyposition necessary for contact with object 16 to be salvaged, andconnector 15 is connected via cable 18 to ship 17 so that it may beraised thereby.

Because this particular salvage illustration is a marine salvageoperation, the environmental medium in which the invention is working iswater 81. Of course, water 81 may be fresh water, brackish water, seawater, or any other kind of water found in rivers, bays, estuaries,lakes, seas, and oceans. Accordingly, ship 17 is sailing thereon,vehicle 12 is shown as a submarine vehicle traveling therein, and object16 to be salvaged is depicted as laying on the bottom or floor 82thereof.

Obviously, if the subject invention were being used on land, in space,or within any other ambient work environment, the various and sundryvehicles and apparatus associated therewith would have to be designedfor operation therein and substituted for those shown in FIG. 5. Again,so doing would be well within the purview of one skilled in the arthaving the benefit of the teachings presented herewith, inasmuch as sodoing would not violate the spirit and scope of the invention.

MODE OF OPERATION The operation of the invention will now be discussedbriefly in conjunction with FIGS. 2 through 5.

At the outset, it should be understood that because welding techniquesare being employed by this invention, the object to be salvaged must beof such material as can be welded. Preferably, it would be iron, steel,or the like, but by the proper selection of materials for theaforementioned electrodes, it could be other materials as well. For thepurpose of keeping this disclosure as simple as possible, it will beconsidered as being iron and, thus, suitable welding electrodes andelectric currents are used for such welding purposes.

Furthermore, although the invention is primarily intended for making awelded connection to a curved or irregular surface, it will work equallywell with smooth, flat surfaces, too.

One of the advantages of the invention, as previously suggested, is thatit is operable for salvaging ships, submarine boats, and other marinevehicles in the deep waters of the oceans. When being so used, carriervehicle 12 may or may not be manned but at very great water depths ispreferably unmanned and is, thus, controlled by the telemeteringconnection with ship 17. In any event, vehicle 12 is steered to sunkenobject 16, as a result of proper manipulation thereof, and connector 15is made to contact an outer surface thereof. Being iron, object 16 isattracted to permanent magnets 28, 29, 30, and any others disposedaround the rim of base 31, and, hence, padeye connector 21 is heldsecurely in contact with object 16. However, at the time of actualimpact of connector 21 on object 16, electrode assemblies 44automatically attempt to align themselves normal to the surfacecontacted as a result of their being gimbaled withtwo-degrees-of-freedom and as a result of the lower surfaces of cones 61aligning themselves with the surface of object 16 at all contact points,respectively. Alignment of the electrode assemblies is facilitatedfurther by the resilience of spring 53, inasmuch as it not onlyeffectively provides a shock absorbing cushion during impact, it alsoprovides for greater total movement of the electrode in still anotherdirection, a direction not provided by gimbal assembly 45. Then,electrical power is supplied to cartridge 71, causing it to detonate andforce electrode point 76 into contact with object 16, thereby, in turn,causing a welding arc to be struck, since electric current is beingsupplied at the same time to electrodes 63 by electrical leads 77 andthe power supply and switching apparatus (not shown) connected to theother end thereof.

From the foregoing, it may readily be seen that all of the studelectrodes are self-aligning and self-striking and, therefore, theyadjust to and are welded to the surface contacted with a weld ofconsiderable strength, regardless of the surface irregularities thereof.Furthermore, as previously suggested, because most marine growth, ifany, present on the surface of the object to be salvaged will bepenetrated and burned through, even though in some instances the jointefficiency of the welds must be lowered say, to as low as 10 percent inorder to allow for severe porosity and inclusions, the lift capabilities(that is, the strength) of the welds remain very high.

Once the welds are effected, the disconnect mechanism 14 is actuated andthe padeye connector is separated from its carriage frame 22. Ship 17then reels in cable 18, thereby raising object 16 into a desiredposition, so that other operations may be performed thereon, ascircumstances warrant.

As previously mentioned, the carriage at the end of the manipulator maybe made to hold any number of salvage connectors merely by designing ittherefor. Hence, large or small salvage operations may be implemented byusing this invention, without requiring large numbers of supportvehicles to be employed.

Obviously, other embodiments and modifications of the subject inventionwill readily come to the mind of one skilled in the art having thebenefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and thedrawings. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is notto be limited thereto and that said modifications and embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a salvage system, a padeye salvage connector, capable of beingwelded to an object having an irregular surface, for effecting themovement thereof to a desired location, comprising in combination:

a plurality of universally-jointed, self-aligning, selfstriking weldingelectrode means, each of which is spatially disposed from the others andeach of which is constructed for resiliently impeded movement in adirection away from and substantially normal to the surface of an objectto which it is intended to be welded upon contact therewith, therebyeffecting an irregular contact disposition thereof that is substantiallycompatible with the aforesaid surface regardless of its irregularities;

means connected to said plurality of universally jointed, self-aligning,self-striking, welding electrode means for the support thereof in apredetermined geometrical configuration; and

means connected to said last mentioned support means for attaching alifting means thereto.

2. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by at least onepermanent magnet connected to said at least one salvage connector insuch manner as to be attracted to the irregular surface of the object tobe salvaged immediately prior to and during the welding of saidelectrode means thereto.

3. In a salvage system, a connector, comprising in combination:

a base plate having at least a first hole therethrough;

a gimbal means connected to said base plate in such manner as to bedisposed within said first hole;

a sleeve connected to said gimbal means in such manner as to extendwithin two-degrees-of-freedom within said hole; first end cap, having asecond hole therein, connected to one end of said sleeve; cylinder,having a second end cap at one end thereof with a third holetherethrough and a third end cap at the other end thereof with a fourthhole therethrough, slidably mounted within said second hole of saidsleeve in such manner that the second end cap thereof is capble ofmaking an abutting stop with said first end cap;

first resilient means effectively connected between said gimbal meansand said second end cap of said cylinder for urging said second end capinto abutment with the aforesaid first end cap of said sleeve;

a welding electrode slidably mounted within said cylinder and extendingthrough the fourth hole in the third end cap thereof;

second resilient means connected between said welding electrode and saidthird end cap of said cylinder for urging one end of said weldingelectrode into abutment with the second end cap thereof;

an electrically non-conductive ring effectively connected to andextending from the end of said cylinder in such manner as to surroundthe aforesaid welding electrode and normally extend beyond the endthereof; and

means connected to said welding electrode for supplying electricalcurrent thereto.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein said electrically nonconductivering is a ceramic ring having a frustoconical configuration.

5. The invention of claim 3, further characterized by a strikerelectrode integrally connected to the end of said welding electrode insuch manner as to extend beyond the end of the aforesaid electricallynonconductive ring.

6. The invention of claim 3, further characterized by:

an explosive charge disposed within the aforesaid sleeve and extendingthrough the second hole in said first end cap thereof in such mannerthat one end thereof is continguously disposed within the end of saidwelding electrode that is opposite the end thereof extending within saidelectrically nonconductive ring; and

means connected to said explosive charge for timely effecting thedetonation thereof.

7. A salvage system, comprising in combination:

a carrier vehicle, said carrier vehicle including a power supply and aswitching means therefor that is set in response to a firstpredetermined signal;

a controllable manipulator means effectively connected to said carriervehicle and extending therefrom into the environmental medium ambientthereto, said controllable manipulator means being adapted for movementin response to a second predetermined signal;

a carrier frame means effectively connected to the outer extremity ofsaid controllable manipulator means located within said ambientenvironmental medium;

at least one salvage connector detachably connected to said carrierframe means, said salvage connector including a base plate having atleast a first hole therethrough; a gimbal means connected to said baseplate in such manner as to be disposed within said first hole; a sleeveconnected to said gimbal means in such manner as to extend withintwodegrees-of-freedom within said hole; a first end cap, having a secondhole therein, connected to one end of said sleeve; a cylinder, having asecond end cap at one end thereof with a third hole therethrough and athird end cap at the other end thereof with a fourth hole therethrough,slidably mounted within said second hole of said sleeve in such mannerthat the second end cap thereof is ca-, pable of making an abutting stopwith said first end cap; first resilient means effectively connectedbetween said gimbal means and said second end cap of said cylinder forurging said second end cap into abutment with the aforesaid first endcap of said sleeve; a welding electrode slidably mounted within saidcylinder and extending through the fourth hole in the third end cap ofsaid cylinder; second resilient means connected between said weldingelectrode and said third end cap of said cylinder for urging one end ofsaid welding electrode into abutment with the second end cap thereof; anelectrically non-conductive ring effectively connected to and extendingfrom the end of said cylinder in such manner as to surround theaforesaid welding electrode and normally extend beyond the end thereof;and means connected between said welding electrode and the aforesaidswitching means for enabling electrical current to be supplied thereto;

means connected between said carrier frame means and the aforesaidsalvage connector for effecting the disconnection thereof in response toa third predetermined signal; and

means connected to said salvage connector for the moving thereof to apredetermined location after it has been disconnected from the aforesaidcarrier frame means.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said means connected to said salvageconnector for the moving thereof to a predetermined location after ithas been disconnected from the aforesaid carrier frame comprises:

a lift vehicle; and

a cable connected between said lift vehicle and the aforesaid salvageconnector.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said means connected to said salvageconnector for the moving thereof to a predetermined location after ithas been disconnected from the aforesaid frame means comprises:

a cable having a bridle connected to said salvage connector; and

a lift vehicle connected to said cable.

l0.- The invention of claim 7, further comprising means connected tosaid carrier vehicle for the movement thereof to a predeterminedlocation.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said means con nected to saidcarrier vehicle for the movement thereof to a predetermined locationcomprises:

a tractor vehicle; and

force communicating linkage means connected between said tractor vehicleand said carrier vehicle.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said means connected to said carriervehicle for the movement thereof to a predetermined location comprisesan auto-motive power plant contained within said carrier vehicle.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein said electrically non-conductive ringis a ceramic ring having a frustoconical configuration.

14. The invention of claim 7, further characterized by a strikerelectrode integrally connected to the end of said welding electrode insuch manner as to extend beyond the end of the aforesaid electricallynonconductive ring.

15. The invention of claim 7, further characterized by:

an explosive charge disposed within the aforesaid sleeve and extendingthrough the second hole in the first end cap thereof in such manner thatone end thereof is contiguously disposed with the end of said weldingelectrode that is opposite the end thereof extending within saidelectrically nonconductive ring; and

means connected to said explosive charge for timely effecting thedetonation thereof.

1. In a salvage system, a padeye salvage connector, capable of beingwelded to an object having an irregular surface, for effecting themOvement thereof to a desired location, comprising in combination: aplurality of universally-jointed, self-aligning, self-striking weldingelectrode means, each of which is spatially disposed from the others andeach of which is constructed for resiliently impeded movement in adirection away from and substantially normal to the surface of an objectto which it is intended to be welded upon contact therewith, therebyeffecting an irregular contact disposition thereof that is substantiallycompatible with the aforesaid surface regardless of its irregularities;means connected to said plurality of universally jointed, selfaligning,self-striking, welding electrode means for the support thereof in apredetermined geometrical configuration; and means connected to saidlast mentioned support means for attaching a lifting means thereto. 2.The invention of claim 1 further characterized by at least one permanentmagnet connected to said at least one salvage connector in such manneras to be attracted to the irregular surface of the object to be salvagedimmediately prior to and during the welding of said electrode meansthereto.
 3. In a salvage system, a connector, comprising in combination:a base plate having at least a first hole therethrough; a gimbal meansconnected to said base plate in such manner as to be disposed withinsaid first hole; a sleeve connected to said gimbal means in such manneras to extend within two-degrees-of-freedom within said hole; a first endcap, having a second hole therein, connected to one end of said sleeve;a cylinder, having a second end cap at one end thereof with a third holetherethrough and a third end cap at the other end thereof with a fourthhole therethrough, slidably mounted within said second hole of saidsleeve in such manner that the second end cap thereof is capable ofmaking an abutting stop with said first end cap; first resilient meanseffectively connected between said gimbal means and said second end capof said cylinder for urging said second end cap into abutment with theaforesaid first end cap of said sleeve; a welding electrode slidablymounted within said cylinder and extending through the fourth hole inthe third end cap thereof; second resilient means connected between saidwelding electrode and said third end cap of said cylinder for urging oneend of said welding electrode into abutment with the second end capthereof; an electrically non-conductive ring effectively connected toand extending from the end of said cylinder in such manner as tosurround the aforesaid welding electrode and normally extend beyond theend thereof; and means connected to said welding electrode for supplyingelectrical current thereto.
 4. The connector of claim 3, wherein saidelectrically nonconductive ring is a ceramic ring having afrusto-conical configuration.
 5. The invention of claim 3, furthercharacterized by a striker electrode integrally connected to the end ofsaid welding electrode in such manner as to extend beyond the end of theaforesaid electrically nonconductive ring.
 6. The invention of claim 3,further characterized by: an explosive charge disposed within theaforesaid sleeve and extending through the second hole in said first endcap thereof in such manner that one end thereof is contiguously disposedwithin the end of said welding electrode that is opposite the endthereof extending within said electrically nonconductive ring; and meansconnected to said explosive charge for timely effecting the detonationthereof.
 7. A salvage system, comprising in combination: a carriervehicle, said carrier vehicle including a power supply and a switchingmeans therefor that is set in response to a first predetermined signal;a controllable manipulator means effectively connected to said carriervehicle and extending therefrom into the environmental medium ambientthereto, said controllable manipulator means being adapted for movemenTin response to a second predetermined signal; a carrier frame meanseffectively connected to the outer extremity of said controllablemanipulator means located within said ambient environmental medium; atleast one salvage connector detachably connected to said carrier framemeans, said salvage connector including a base plate having at least afirst hole therethrough; a gimbal means connected to said base plate insuch manner as to be disposed within said first hole; a sleeve connectedto said gimbal means in such manner as to extend withintwo-degrees-of-freedom within said hole; a first end cap, having asecond hole therein, connected to one end of said sleeve; a cylinder,having a second end cap at one end thereof with a third holetherethrough and a third end cap at the other end thereof with a fourthhole therethrough, slidably mounted within said second hole of saidsleeve in such manner that the second end cap thereof is capable ofmaking an abutting stop with said first end cap; first resilient meanseffectively connected between said gimbal means and said second end capof said cylinder for urging said second end cap into abutment with theaforesaid first end cap of said sleeve; a welding electrode slidablymounted within said cylinder and extending through the fourth hole inthe third end cap of said cylinder; second resilient means connectedbetween said welding electrode and said third end cap of said cylinderfor urging one end of said welding electrode into abutment with thesecond end cap thereof; an electrically non-conductive ring effectivelyconnected to and extending from the end of said cylinder in such manneras to surround the aforesaid welding electrode and normally extendbeyond the end thereof; and means connected between said weldingelectrode and the aforesaid switching means for enabling electricalcurrent to be supplied thereto; means connected between said carrierframe means and the aforesaid salvage connector for effecting thedisconnection thereof in response to a third predetermined signal; andmeans connected to said salvage connector for the moving thereof to apredetermined location after it has been disconnected from the aforesaidcarrier frame means.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said meansconnected to said salvage connector for the moving thereof to apredetermined location after it has been disconnected from the aforesaidcarrier frame comprises: a lift vehicle; and a cable connected betweensaid lift vehicle and the aforesaid salvage connector.
 9. The device ofclaim 7, wherein said means connected to said salvage connector for themoving thereof to a predetermined location after it has beendisconnected from the aforesaid frame means comprises: a cable having abridle connected to said salvage connector; and a lift vehicle connectedto said cable.
 10. The invention of claim 7, further comprising meansconnected to said carrier vehicle for the movement thereof to apredetermined location.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein said meansconnected to said carrier vehicle for the movement thereof to apredetermined location comprises: a tractor vehicle; and forcecommunicating linkage means connected between said tractor vehicle andsaid carrier vehicle.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein said meansconnected to said carrier vehicle for the movement thereof to apredetermined location comprises an auto-motive power plant containedwithin said carrier vehicle.
 13. The device of claim 7, wherein saidelectrically non-conductive ring is a ceramic ring having afrusto-conical configuration.
 14. The invention of claim 7, furthercharacterized by a striker electrode integrally connected to the end ofsaid welding electrode in such manner as to extend beyond the end of theaforesaid electrically non-conductive ring.
 15. The invention of claim7, further characterized by: an explosive charge disposed within theaforesaid sleeve and extending through thE second hole in the first endcap thereof in such manner that one end thereof is contiguously disposedwith the end of said welding electrode that is opposite the end thereofextending within said electrically non-conductive ring; and meansconnected to said explosive charge for timely effecting the detonationthereof.